Current maximum irrigation water allocations for olive and peanut crops, that EDIA assigns in the area covered by the Alqueva Multi-Purpose Development (EFMA) are insufficient to meet their respective water needs.
A situation that could worsen in the face of climate change and which could lead to significant drops in productivity.
These are conclusions of the study “The olive grove and the almond grove in EFMA – scenarios on the availability of water for irrigation†developed by Agro.Ges for OLIVUM – Associação de Olivicultores e Lagares de Portugal and for PORTUGAL NUTS.
“This study is a fundamental piece of analysis and reflection on the country’s water challenges, as a whole, and in the perception of the importance of balanced management of water use for irrigation in sectors that are so relevant to national agri-food competitivenessâ€, highlight the presidents of the promoting sectoral associations, who have already submitted the work for analysis to the various competent entities, namely to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
With a particular focus on olive and almond groves, The objective of the present study is to analyze and discuss the relationship between the water needs of the existing crops in the current and future areas of the EFMA system and the availability of water for irrigation in the same system in the future, in a climate change scenario.
The study also identifies possible solutions so that this relationship between needs and availability allows for balanced management, not compromising its interannual sustainability and, simultaneous, ensure the viability of existing crops, and the investments associated with them, optimizing the generation of economic value in the region.
News: Agroportal
